Thunderstorm watch issued for Bay

A thunderstorm watch had been issued for the Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Auckland and Northland.

MetService issued the warning saying a front with embedded thunderstorms is expected to cross the upper North Island this afternoon and evening.

There is a moderate risk some of these thunderstorms will be severe with wind gusts in excess of 110km/h and small tornadoes over Northland, Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula this afternoon and over Bay of Plenty this evening.

Wind gusts of this strength can cause some structural damage, including trees and power lines, and may make driving hazardous. If any tornados occur, they will only affect very localised areas.